Above: Clay Elam will discuss the use of plants by Native Americans at the Lucerne Valley Museum from 6-8 p.m. on June 8.
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The first people to walk the desert were the nomadic hunter-gatherers of several Indian tribes who knew how to live off what they found. Explore two of these tribes: The Hohokam people of Arizona, and the Cahuilla tribe of Southern California during a presentation June 8, 6-8 pm. The new Evening Desert series is hosted by L.V. Museum Association and is free to the public.
Guest presenter, Clay Elam's curiosity about the desert started early. His father worked for the Dept. of Agriculture, doing soil surveys. Which brought them to a place called "H-E-L-L." Yes there was such a place. A wide spot on Route 60-70 going to Blythe, a gas station with three pumps. Actually they lived a few miles outside of "Hell."
Spending most of his life in the desert, he deemed it wise to follow the examples of the Native Americans, instead of trying to "reinvent the wheel," so to speak. He was inspired by reading the books of local anthropologist Lowell Bean, in learning the ways of the Cahuilla Indians.
Clay's day job is teaching: he's taught everything from Pre-K to adult education classes -- Science, Math, History, French -- and a long list of other subjects. His avocation is Ethnobotany -- the use of plants by the Native Americans. And in harmony with this interest, more recently he joined Transition Joshua Tree's Permaculture Team.
Join us Monday evening from 6-8 pm at the LV Community Center. The program is free and light refreshments will be available.